Coyote Howler October Newsletter 2023

October 2023 Newsletter

Coyote Howler Newsletter Outline Things to Know About the RHS Yearbook Senior Reminders/ Info Coyote Football: A Tale of Dedication & Accountability Volleyball Recap Cross Country Recap College Fair HOSA Highlight Senior Highlight, Meet the 2024 Seniors!

A Growing Program: RHS Culinary Arts Homecoming Recap Teacher of the Month

Editors

Emmannuel Iglesias, Gabriella Fajardo, Crystal Sanchez, Aliana Tovar, Abigail Waggoner, Jaiden Wright

Photographer Santiago Nava

Section 1

Announcements

Things to Know About the RHS Yearbook

By Mia Herrera

High school yearbooks are a special souvenir from the school year. It holds a trove of memories to look back on. Your high school years are known as the best of your life.

The yearbook is meant to help keep those memories together for years to come. I spoke with the yearbook advisor Elizabeth Najar, and asked her a few questions about this yearbook.

Mrs. Najar is very excited about this year's yearbook. Yearbook staff are doing a 2000s Scrapbook theme, a fun spin on “scrapbooks” and an updated version. Najar shared that “it’s not her yearbook to design, it’s the students’ vision for the yearbook”. She enjoys seeing all the students come together and build the yearbook as a team. The yearbook is priced to sell with several deadlines seeing a price increase after October 31st the price of the yearbook was $55. Until Christmas break the yearbook will be priced at $60. After Christmas break the price will be $65 until May 17, 2024.That will be the last day to place an order for 2023-2024 yearbook.

The last set of yearbook deadlines is only for seniors. Seniors can purchase Senior Ads. There is a half-page DIY, you can make your own for $80, and a quarter-page DIY for $50. If you want the yearbook staff to design your senior ad you can order a half page for $90 or a quarter page ad for $60. Najar stated, “Senior ads take pages away from content pages, so we need to make sure the prices are worth losing school content.”

Seniors must have their senior photos submitted by March 25, 2024. The link is in Canvas under the Principal’s Course. Najar is also adding ten more pages to the yearbook this year, she added more pages so we wouldn’t have to take too many pages from the school's sports, clubs, and organizations. She wants to include more storytelling “I do not want to see just pictures, yearbook shouldn’t be just pictures, we want to know the story behind the pictures.

Mrs Najar and her students are very excited to work on the yearbook this year. They have a positive outlook on this year’s yearbook and cannot wait to see the final product.

Senior Reminders/Info

By Skyler Dunway, Nicolette Padilla, and Gabriel Carrillo

Many students do not know the graduation requirements required for a student to graduate RHS. This article outlines some things the class of 24’ should know about graduation. In order to graduate you first need to have 28 credits.

If you need to attend Credit Recovery to make up a class or a credit, talk to your counselor and get it done as soon as possible. Always keep your grades up. All it takes is one missing credit to deny you of graduating. If you’re struggling in any classes, speak to your teacher and attend after school tutoring. In your senior year, even if you have an open schedule you should not be slipping up. Graduation is right around the corner and will come sooner than you think. Gradzilla payments should be made by late March.

Though keeping up with your classes can be stressful, if there is free time on your hands and you seek to be more involved with Roswell High, we recommend you join clubs or sports! Extracurricular activities make high school more memorable afterall. After interviewing multiple seniors, we found that while excited for graduation, many are just looking to be done with academia. If your enviroment is dull and you find yourself checking the time five or more instances throughout the class period, your mindset towards the class is most likely what’s making you dislike it. Try interacting more with your teachers and other students around you, a little bit of participation and banter can actually make time fly and you’ll be more engaged in the subject. It’s our last year of high school so let us be encouraged to enjoy it and make it last.

Section 2

Sports Coyote Football: A Tale of Dedication & Accountability

By Abey Toscano & LJ Macias

Last year the Roswell Coyotes took the media by storm after having success following harsh 2021 year.

The new team was electric and dedicated. They easily had the potential to be a state championship team. However, they suffered a crucial loss to the number 3 Piedra Vista Panthers in the semi-finals. Things are looking different this year. The Coyotes ended the regular season 10-0 after taking down some powerhouse teams such as the Hobbs Eagles, Los Lunas Tigers, and the Artesia Bulldogs by 21 or more points. Not only that but they let up a mere 21 points throughout their first 7 games combined.

What’s so different about this year than last year? For starters, the coaches have made it their mission to not let the same outcome repeat.

Jeff Lynn, Head Football Coach says, “our number one goal is to get better every week.” Defensive Coordinator Art Bolanos goes on to say “I knew we had a lot of potential to be really good… The way they responded in the spring they worked hard and we went over some leadership courses…”

The coaches were aware of the potential the 2023 team has and led them in the direction of success.

Athletic Director Art Sandoval concurs “I think it's the best coaching staff in the state of New Mexico…” So far Sandoval’s statement has lived up to its word.

The Coyotes this year are outstanding; they have no doubt lived up to the coaches’

expectations. Their opponents all season have put up 73 points which averages out to 7.3 points per game.

Meanwhile, the Coyotes have scored an astonishing 420 points averaging out to 42 points per game. “All the starters defensively are very talented… all the starters on the defensive side have earned it.. when all 11 guys on the field do their job it’s just clamps” claims starting Safety Xai Carrasco. On the offensive side, starting Quarterback Manny Fuentez stated “all of our positions on the offensive side are the strong points…” when asked about the Coyote offense.

When starting Kicker and Wingback Peyton Kennard was asked what goes through his head after a mistake he replied “nothing really, just keep my head up.There’s always going to be another chance”. The team has this same mentality, everyone keeps each other accountable.

Coach Bolanos has pointed this aspect out the most and concluded that it is the key to their success. “the big reason for our success is cause they truly care for each other there’s a bond there... playing for each other that’s what we tell the boys all the time you guys don’t play for the coaches you guys play for each other”. Sandoval points out that his favorite part of watching the Roswell Coyotes is “after the football game happens the Roswell High School football team gets together and you see it’s a family there…”

Volleyball Recap By: Ayiana & Aalyha Reese

This season the RHS volleyball team has done really well, they are entering district 9-8. They have already played the first game of district on October 17 against hobbs and won 3-0. On Thursday the 19 they played their second district game against Carlsbad, and the Lady

Coyotes won 3-1. We interviewed varsity coach Savanah Romero.

Coach Romero reflected on this season before district, and said some of her favorite things about this volleyball season were “just being with the kids and being with the girls”, she also loves how hard they worked, she said her girls are “dawgs and would go through a brick wall if she asked them to.”

Romero said she feels she and the team have done good this season and “are breaking chains.” Roswell High beat Goddard this year for the first time in 7 years. Romero also expects her team to win district and make it to the state championship this year. The team is currently 2-0 in district. Some things Romero is looking forward to going into district and “to see her girls play and sharpen up their skills and seeing everything they are learning at practice transfer into the games.” Some improvements Coach Romero has seen with her team is their ball placement not only on their servers but when they attack the ball, and how well they now play the game of volleyball. Coach Romero said she “didn’t have a certain team she was excited to play”.

She “just loved seeing [her] girls on the court and playing against anyone.”

We also spoke with Debra Leyva and Hannah McFerrez. Both juniors on the team and have been playing volleyball at RHS since their freshman year. The girls reflected on some of their favorite things from this season. Leyva said some of her favorite things were how “the practices were pretty fun, it was fun to beat Goddard.”

McFerrez says her favorite thing was “beating Goddard.” Leyva says “I feel I have done better than last year. I’ve upped my game” and has“ played with more confidence in myself.” McFerrez believes she has done better this season than last year but is still striving for improvement. Both girls said “they

“want to win district and make it to state.” Leyva said some improvements she has made revolve around attitude. She has a better attitude towards her teammates, and she doesn’t bring down her teammates. McFerrez emphasized she has improved her “energy on and off the court.” Some games the girls were excited to play were playing Goddard and being able to play Las Cruces. McFerrez says she was excited to play Cruces “cause it gave them an opportunity to see how bigger teams play.” The Roswell Volleyball team will play their third game of district on October 24 against Clovis in Clovis.

Cross Country Recap

By Jorge Jimenez

“So far the season is going okay we’re not exactly where I wanted us to be at but we’ll see if we can make a few adjustments to have a strong finish” said Coach Gabriel Vidal when asked about the team’s season. Vidal is the Head Coach and Ashley Ingram is the Assistant Coach. In terms of notable wins and placings the Varsity boys team won the RHS home meet and placed 3rd at the NMMI Meet. The girls team placed 2nd at the RHS home meet and have struggled placing throughout the season. The team is looking forward to the District Meet that will be hosted by Carlsbad in the hopes of having some runners place for state.

Section 3

School College Fair

By Eliana Chavez

On October 5th, Roswell High hosted their annual college fair. This fair is hosted for juniors and seniors to be informed about different colleges. They bring multiple admission officers to the school to answer questions and give helpful information to students. There were great colleges for all the students to go to. In total there were 25 colleges for students to explore. A counsel gathers and coordinates all the colleges to come to Roswell High. An Admission Recruiter from Western University in Silver City helps set up this college fair. When asking Mrs. Marrujo, Counselor, how much work was put into the fair, she states, “as counselors, we organize where it’s going to be, the set up, and organize how all the students are going to come through.”

The main colleges that attend are ENMU Portales, NMSU, UNM, and sometimes NMMI. Students do wish more out of state colleges would attend our fair. The college fair has provided great and helpful information for Roswell High students, and will continue to grow throughout the years.

HOSA Highlight

By Amari Villa & Kaelynn Medellin

HOSA is an international student based organization that stands for Health Occupations Students of America. This organization was just started at Roswell high in the 23-24 school year. Its purpose is to strengthen your academic skills, delivery of quality health care, and

provide career opportunities for your future in the healthcare industry.

While interviewing HOSA Advisor, Mrs. Ackerman, she mentioned the purpose of why she brought HOSA to Roswell High. “HOSA gives students experience in the healthcare field and how to be professionally involved in the healthcare industry and gives them a chance to network and meet people who can show them skills for their future.”

HOSA rules state that for each chapter there must be a number of officers. The officers team consists of a president, VIce President, Secretary, Treasure, Historian/Reporter, and a Parliamentarian.

President- Madison White Vice President- Mia Mata Secretary- Suzane Andresen Treasure- Amari Villa Historians/Reporter- Kaelynn Medellin & Alianna Romero Parliamentarian- Starlena Boardman Some of the opportunities you get in joining HOSA include getting a chance to network, getting to meet people in the healthcare industry, and community service. One example of community service HOSA will be involved in is partnering to help host a blood drive with Vitalant. Community service will look good on resumes and applications for college and scholarships because they will know that you're involved in more than just high school. The overall experience you get from being in HOSA gives you a leg up on the people who have never experienced these things. the class of 2024! This Senior Highlight, Meet seniorMeet class is made up of 250 te 2024 Seniors! students each student comes from

By Gabriel Villa & Evan Cartier

many different backgrounds, each with their own experiences and memories. Join us as we help highlight a small number of the seniors as they share their experiences and plans for the future What do you plan on doing after high school?

Charlize Rodriguez: “I plan on going to college to study pre-med, and majoring in neuroscience.”

What do you have planned after high school?

Anahi Dominguez: “I plan on going to college obviously, I'm debating to go to

ENMU Portales or NMSU in Las Cruces, and I want to go into elementary education because I really want to teach kids.”

What is your favorite highlight or memory from your entire high school experience?

Connor Nichols: “I would just say all the time I spent playing football, that time and experience was the best of my life and so far the highlight of my whole high school career, is playing football” What was your favorite highlight or memory from your entire high school experience?

Marissa Russ: “Probably just spending time with my friends.”

What do you plan on doing after High School?

Julian Amador: “I plan to go to college and be an electrician.”

What was your favorite highlight or memory from your entire high school experience?

Christian Trevino: “Meeting my girlfriend” As these seniors prepare to embark on new adventures, we hope to highlight the experiences and friendships made along the way.

Charlize Rodriguez Anahi Dominguez Connor Nichols

Marissa Russ Julian Amador Christian Trevino

A Growing Program: RHS Culinary Arts

By Quetzaly Rodriguez and Jayla Rubio

This year students were shocked to see a new name on their schedule when they chose to take Culinary Arts. Culinary Arts at Roswell High is a class where students learn about the food industry.

The program has become so popular that in addition to Mrs. Valverde teaching, Mrs. Graham is now teaching a few sections of the class.

Since the program has been growing there is new equipment. In addition to learning valuable skills and gaining experience in the food industry, students in the Culinary Arts program also have the opportunity to participate in community events.

The program's success has also led to new opportunities for students.

Some have gone on to work in local restaurants or even pursue a career in the culinary arts. The program has opened up a new world of possibilities for students who are passionate about food and want to explore their interests further.

Overall, the growing Culinary Arts program at our school has been a huge success. Students have been able to learn new skills, gain valuable experience, and participate in community events. With the addition of the food truck, the program is sure to continue growing and providing exciting opportunities for students for years to come.

Homecoming Recap

By Alyssa Conde

Homecoming is a time-honored tradition filled with spirited events, football games, amazing dances, and the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen. Roswell High School's 2023 Homecoming King and Queen were Omar Ramos and Isabella Garcia.

Omar shared that winning felt good and is and will always be a great memory, while Isabella felt shocked but it was a great feeling for her. Both had an amazing time campaigning and at each homecoming event.

Homecoming events included a Spirit Week. The week kicked off with Decades Day, Tuesday was Men in Black, Wednesday was Barbie vs.

Oppenheimer, Thursday was Ready for Battle (Camo Day) and the week ended with a Coyote Out Friday. The fun didn’t stop there with Student Council sponsoring a S’mores Night after on Thursday, Sept. 21. For our Ready for Battle Day students headed to the Roswell High vs. Goddard Volleyball game and packed the gym.

Teacher of the Month

By Greg DeLosSantos

Mrs. Najar was chosen Teacher of the Month for September! Mrs. Najar, a passionate and dedicated educator, has inspired countless students throughout her teaching career. Let's take a moment to learn more about Mrs. Najar and her teaching philosophy.

What inspired Mrs.Najar to become a teacher?

Mrs. Najar credits her high school history teacher for inspiring her to pursue a career in education. This teacher's passion and engaging teaching style motivated Mrs. Najar to follow in their footsteps and make a difference in students' lives.

How does Mrs.Najar create an engaging and inclusive environment for her students?

Mrs. Najar believes in reaching her students on their level and providing them with choices. By doing so, she ensures an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and engaged in the learning process. One goal she shared for the rest of the year is to motivate and support her students in achieving success. Mrs. Najar is focused on helping every student pass and fostering a positive environment that encourages growth and academic achievement.

Mrs. Najar has planned some exciting projects for her students. They will be reading the thought-provoking book "Columbine" which delves into important discussions about people's mental health. Additionally, they will be working on a challenging research paper, providing them with an opportunity to enhance their critical thinking and research skills. When asked about being chosen as the Teacher of the Month, Mrs. Najar expressed her gratitude and honor. It serves as a reminder that her hard work and dedication to her students are recognized and appreciated by the Roswell High School community.

Lastly, Mrs. Najar shared a fun fact about herself. Her favorite Halloween movie is none other than "Hocus Pocus," a classic film that adds a touch of magic and nostalgia to the spooky season.

Congratulations, Mrs. Najar, on being named the Teacher of the Month!

Your commitment to providing an engaging and inclusive learning environment is truly commendable. Thank you for all that you do in shaping the future of our students.